Central University of Tamil Nadu

The Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN) was established in 2009 by the Government of India under the Central Universities Act, 2009, as part of an initiative to expand higher education access across the country. Located near Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu, the university began with just eight students in the M.A. English Studies programme and has since grown significantly. 

CUTN operates across two main campuses: the Academic Campus at Neelakudi and the Residential Campus at Nagakudi. These campuses provide academic facilities, hostels, staff quarters, and amenities such as health services, sports facilities, a bank, and a school (Kendriya Vidyalaya). The university is set in a largely rural environment surrounded by paddy fields, offering a tranquil setting for study.

The university comprises 27 departments organised under 12 schools, offering more than 60 academic programmes including undergraduate, postgraduate, integrated, diploma, certificate, and research courses. It also includes a Community College that offers B.Voc and other vocational courses. CUTN has formed academic partnerships with institutions such as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International School of Textiles & Management and the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History in Coimbatore to enhance its academic offerings.

Governance has seen several changes, with Prof. M. Krishnan serving as the current Vice-Chancellor since August 2021. The university serves over 2,000 students.

CUTN aims to provide inclusive education, with a focus on students from underprivileged backgrounds, while preserving the cultural heritage of the Thiruvarur region, known for its history of traditional art, music, and dance. It emphasises research, innovation, sustainable development, and community outreach.

In national rankings, CUTN was placed in the 51–100 band by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2022 and ranked 99th among Indian universities in 2024.

The Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN) was established by the Government of India in 2009 through the Central Universities Act, 2009. This act led to the creation of CUTN alongside eight other central universities with the aim of expanding higher education access across the country, particularly for students from underprivileged and marginalised communities.

CUTN officially began its operations in September 2009. The university initially functioned from the Collectorate Annexe in Thiruvarur, a town located approximately 60 kilometres east of Thanjavur in the state of Tamil Nadu. At its inception, the university enrolled only eight students in the M.A. English Studies programme. B. P. Sanjay was appointed as the first Vice-Chancellor of the university.

The university is situated near a tributary of the Cauvery river, about seven kilometres northwest of the town of Thiruvarur. Thiruvarur is historically significant as the ancient capital of the Chozha dynasty and is known for its heritage in traditional art, music, and dance. This regional cultural background influences the university’s environment and academic activities.

CUTN’s academic operations were initially divided between two campuses: the Academic Campus located in the village of Neelakudi and the Residential Campus in the village of Nagakudi. The Neelakudi campus contains the academic buildings including lecture halls, libraries, laboratories, administration blocks, an auditorium, and student hostels. It also offers facilities such as a health centre operating 24/7, a shopping complex, a yoga centre, indoor and outdoor sports arenas, a gymnasium, a post office, and a bank with ATM services. 

The Nagakudi campus provides housing for faculty and staff, guesthouses, and accommodates the Kendriya Vidyalaya CUTN school, fostering a close educational community. The surroundings of both campuses consist largely of paddy fields, contributing to a quiet learning environment.

The university’s governance has seen several changes since its establishment. After B. P. Sanjay’s initial tenure as Vice-Chancellor, Aditya Prasad Dash took over the position in August 2015. In July 2018, G. Padmanabhan replaced V. Krishnamurthy as Chancellor of the university. In August 2020, Karpaga Kumaravel was appointed as the acting Vice-Chancellor, followed by Prof. M. Krishnan, who became the regular Vice-Chancellor on 6 August 2021.

Over time, CUTN has expanded significantly in size and scope. The university now operates 27 departments organised under 12 schools, offering over 60 programmes. These include undergraduate, postgraduate, integrated, diploma, certificate, and research programmes. The university also established a Community College that offers B.Voc programmes along with various certificate and diploma courses. CUTN has entered into strategic partnerships with institutions such as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International School of Textiles & Management in Coimbatore and the Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) also in Coimbatore, to extend its academic reach.

The university spans an area of approximately 516.76 acres in Thiruvarur district. It has developed facilities and academic infrastructure to support its growing student population, which now exceeds 2,000 students.

CUTN has been ranked in the 51–100 band among Indian universities by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2022 and was ranked 99th among universities in India in the 2024 NIRF rankings.

The Central University of Tamil Nadu envisions providing inclusive education and fostering academic research and innovation. Its mission includes advancing knowledge through interdisciplinary learning, promoting creative and critical thinking, and serving the intellectual and cultural development of society. The university also emphasises sustainable practices, rural development, and community outreach in the surrounding villages.

The Central University of Tamil Nadu offers a broad range of academic programmes across various disciplines. As of now, the university provides over 60 courses that include undergraduate, postgraduate, integrated, diploma, certificate, and research programmes. These courses are organised under 27 departments, which are grouped into 12 academic schools.

CUTN’s academic structure accommodates 29 research programmes, reflecting its commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation. The university offers 22 specialised programmes tailored to specific fields of study, along with six integrated programmes that combine undergraduate and postgraduate education in a seamless manner. Additionally, there are two undergraduate programmes and several postgraduate diploma courses designed to meet varied educational needs.

The university’s schools cover diverse areas of learning, including Basic and Applied Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, Commerce and Business Management, Communication, Earth Sciences, Education and Training, Mathematics and Computer Science, Performing Arts and Fine Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, Technology, Life Sciences, and Legal Studies. This academic organisation supports a wide spectrum of subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, English Studies, Tamil, Economics, Social Work, Hindi, History, Epidemiology and Public Health, Microbiology, Mathematics, Computer Science, Applied Psychology, Commerce, Management, Media and Communication, Library and Information Science, Education, Materials Science, Music, Law, Statistics and Applied Mathematics, Horticulture, Tourism and Hospital Management, Geography, and Geology.

CUTN also operates a Community College that offers vocational education programmes. The Community College provides Bachelor of Vocation (B.Voc) programmes, along with various certificate and diploma courses aimed at skill development and employment readiness. These programmes complement the university’s academic offerings by focusing on practical skills and industry-relevant training.

Furthermore, the university has established strategic academic partnerships with external institutions to broaden its course offerings. Collaborations with the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International School of Textiles & Management and the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), both located in Coimbatore, enable CUTN to provide specialised undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through industrial and institutional linkages.

The Central University of Tamil Nadu has been assessed and ranked by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), which is an official ranking system established by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. In 2022, CUTN was placed within the 51–100 band among universities in India. In the subsequent 2024 edition of the NIRF rankings, the Central University of Tamil Nadu was ranked 99th among Indian universities.

The Central University of Tamil Nadu has not yet released its placement details for the year 2024. However, according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) report for 2024, data from the 2023 placements is available. During the 2023 placement cycle, 6 undergraduate students, 106 postgraduate students, and 21 integrated postgraduate students secured employment through university placements.

The median salary package for undergraduate courses in 2023 was reported as INR 2.08 lakh per annum (LPA). For postgraduate courses of two years duration, the median package was INR 2.90 LPA, while integrated postgraduate courses recorded a median package of INR 4.88 LPA.

For comparison, in 2022, the median package for undergraduate courses was INR 2.4 LPA. Postgraduate courses had a median package of INR 3.46 LPA, and integrated postgraduate courses had a median package of INR 4.78 LPA.

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